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WhatsApp Supports Apple In Legal Battle With UK Government
- WhatsApp's head, Will Cathcart, supports Apple in its legal battle with the UK government, citing the danger of setting a precedent that could embolden other nations to seek to break encryption.
- The UK government issued a Technical Capability Notice (TCN) to Apple in February 2025, requesting a backdoor to access encrypted iCloud data worldwide, which raised privacy and security concerns.
- US lawmakers requested the UK to retract its order, and US intelligence agencies are investigating the UK order.
- Apple withdrew its Advanced Data Protection iCloud feature in the UK, which allows users to secure their data with end-to-end encryption.
- Apple appealed the government's order, and the case was heard behind closed doors in March.
- The Investigatory Powers Tribunal in April refused the government's request to keep the case details secret.
- WhatsApp supports Apple and is willing to challenge any law or government request that weakens encryption.
- The UK Home Office stated that its surveillance powers are only used for serious crimes and with necessary oversight.
- Tech firms, including WhatsApp, have been vocal critics of the Investigatory Powers Act, warning against encryption backdoors.
- In 2023, WhatsApp's Cathcart criticized the UK's Online Safety Act, stating that the company would not remove end-to-end encryption.
- Rival messaging app Signal also expressed concerns about potential requirements to scan messages in the UK.
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